WT/REG432/2  
 
18 March  2022 
(22-2421) Page: 1/6 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements  Original: English /Spanish  
 
 
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND SINGAPORE  
(GOODS AND SERVICES)  
QUESTIONS AND REPLIES  
 The following communication, dated 18 March 2022 , is being circulated at the request of the 
delegations of  the United Kingdom and Singapore . 
 
_______________  
 
 
Question s from Brazil  
 
1.1.  Paragraph 3.16 states that the Agreement incorporates most of the provisions of the 
EU-Singapore Agreement on rules of origin.  
 Could the parties please clarify how significant in terms of percentage are the new 
Product Specific Rules of Origin and to which chapters do they apply?  
 
Response from the Parties  
 
 All product specific rules included in the UK -Singapore Agreement are the same as those in 
the EU -Singapore Agreement. No new product specific rules were adopted . 
 
1.2.  Regarding section 3.19, could the parties please clarify the reasoning that guided the 
creation of origin quotas, and why these specific products wer e included? On the same 
subject, could the parties please confirm if the tariff rates applied to products from 
Singapore included on origin quotas (listed on Table A2.1, Annex 2) will be gradually 
reduced and phased -out, in accordance to the reduction appl ied to out -of-quota 
products?   
Response from the Parties  
 
 When negotiating the UK -Singapore Agreement the Parties ' aim was to ensure maximum 
continuity of effect for traders. Consequently, all origin quotas in the EU -Singapore Agreement were 
transitioned to the UK -Singapore Agreement and re -sized in proportion to the UK market.  
 
 The tariff rates applicable to in -quota and out -of-quota products are the same, and will be 
gradually phased out based on the relevant staging categories, as was the case in the E U-Singapore 
Agreement . 
 
Question s from  Canada  
 
UK-Singapore RTA Text  
 
1.3.  Paragraph 13 of the UK -Singapore FTA (Modifications to Annex 9 -H (Means of 
Publication))  
The paragraph above indicates the following: "Upon entry into force of this Agreement, 
the United Kingdom shall provide Singapore with details on the United Kingdom 's means 
of publication . This means of publication shall be directly accessible by electroni c means WT/REG432/2  
 
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  and free of charge through a single point of access on the internet, subject to the 
provisions of this Agreement [emphasis added]."  
 
 Could the United Kingdom please identify the "means of publication" it has 
implemented since the entry into force of this agreement?  
 
 The United Kingdom's government website address, and means of publication is  www.gov.uk.  
 
 With regard to covered procurement launched after 1 January 2021, the electronic means of 
publication is the Find a Tender service (FTS)  (www.find -tender.service.gov.uk ). 
 
Factual Presentation  
 
1.4.  Paragraph 4.28 provides: "The Agreement incorporates provisions of Article 8.16 of 
the EU -Singapore FTA that covers mutual recognition of professional qualifications. For 
further details, see paragraph 4.53 of the factual presentation on the EU -Singapore FTA 
in document WT/REG402/1."  
 Are agreements on mutua l recognition of professional qualifications adopted by 
Parties under the UK -Singapore FTA intended to become binding on the Parties and 
subject to the dispute settlement mechanism of the FTA?  
 
Response from the Parties  
 
 Article 8.16 does not set out that  any negotiated agreement on mutual recognition of 
professional qualifications be incorporated into the FTA.   
  
 Per Article 14.2, Article 8.16 is subject to the dispute settlement mechanism established by 
Chapter 14.  
 
1.5.  According to Table 4.1 on page 25: "U nited Kingdom: Comparison between the GATS 
and Agreement specific commitments", a number of UK commitments for distribution 
services, education services, and health related and social services are narrower as 
compared to its GATS commitments.  
 Could the UK  provide additional information on these narrower services sectors? In 
addition, could the UK please explain its rationale for adding additional limitations under 
the UK -Singapore FTA compared to those under the GATS?  
 
Response  from the United Kingdom  
 
 The commitments referred to as narrower in Table 4.1 are identical to those found in the 
EU-Singapore Agreement. More generally, agreements that the UK has transitioned since leaving 
the EU replicate, as far as possible, the effe cts of previous EU agreements.  
 
 The UK -Singapore Agreement, like the EU -Singapore Agreement, contains ambitious and 
liberali zing provisions for trade in services, widening sectoral coverage and deepening commitments 
in many services sectors when compared  to the UK 's commitments under the GATS.  
 
Question from  China  
 
1.6.  Regarding trade in Services,  as shown in Table 4.1, the UK has set some additional 
limitations in some sector/sub -sector in the UK -Singapore FTA comparing to GATS, such 
as Franchising, Education services, Hospital services  and Social services.  
 Could the UK side elaborate its conside ration in adding these limitations, and how 
would this coordinate with Article V of GATS?  
 WT/REG432/2  
 
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  Response from the United Kingdom  
 
 The commitments referred to as narrower in Table 4.1 are identical to those found in the 
EU-Singapore Agreement. More generally, a greements that the UK has transitioned since leaving 
the EU replicate, as far as possible, the effects of previous EU agreements.  
 
 The UK -Singapore Agreement, like the EU -Singapore Agreement, contains ambitious and 
liberali zing provisions for trade in ser vices, widening sectoral coverage and deepening commitments 
in many services sectors when compared to the UK’s commitments under the GATS.  
 
Question from  the European Union  
 
Provision on trade in goods  
 
Regulatory provision of the Agreement  
 
Subsidies and State aid  
 
1.7.  Paragraph "3.31 : The Agreement incorporates the provisions of Chapter 11 of the 
EU-Singapore Agreement on subsidies and State -aid with a few modifications provided for 
in the Annex to the Agreement. Paragraph 1 of Article 11.7 (Pro hibited subsidies) which 
incorporates Article 3 of the SCM Agreement into the EU -Singapore Agreement and Annex 
11-A (Principles applicable to other subsidies) are not included in the Agreement."  
 Could you clarify why the following Articles are not include d in the Agreement?  
 
1. Paragraph 1 of Article 11.7 (Prohibited subsidies) which incorporates Article 3 of 
the SCM Agreement into the EU -Singapore Agreement; and  
 
2. Annex 11 -A (Principles applicable to other subsidies).  
 
Response from the Parties  
 
 The Agreement reflects the inter ests of both Parties in ensuring continuity to the existing trade 
relationship and providing certainty for businesses. It was not considered necessary to bilaterally 
replicate all provisions that referred to the SCM Agreement. These differences from the EU -Singapore 
Agreement do not affect either Party 's ability to comply with its international commitments.  
 
Questions from the Indonesia  
 
Trade in services  
 
1.8.  Given that the UK -Singapore Agreement is structured under the EU -Singapore FTA 
with a few modifications, could Singapore and the UK describe what services sectors are 
expected to gain benefit most from this Agreement?  
Response from the Parties  
 
 As noted d uring the CRTA meeting on the EU -Singapore FTA, the Agreement is a high -standard 
agreement which has brought many tangible benefits to enterprises in both economies. The UK 's 
transitioned bilateral agreements replicate, as far as possible, the effects of t heir predecessor EU 
agreements.  
 
 The Parties expect that sectors which have been liberalised under the EUSFTA/UKSFTA could 
benefit. These include professional services , and research and development services.  
 
Sector specific commitments  
 
1.9.  Regarding Singapore's commitment on services sector, in table 4.2, it is stated that 
the audiovisual services sector is excluded by Singapore in this agreement whereas it is 
committed by Singapore in the GATS.  WT/REG432/2  
 
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   Could Singapore explain why this service sector is excluded from the agreement 
even though the commitment is in the GATS?  
 
Response from Singapore  
 
 Parties agreed to exclude audio -visual services from the scope of the EUSFTA and 
UK-Singapore FTA.  
 
Scope and definitions  
 
1.10.   Paragraph 4.3 mentions modifications of EU -Singapore FTA provisions. The UK -
Singapore Agreement is based on the EU -Singapore FTA with some minor modifications. 
The modification applies to the SoCs of both countries listed in Appendix 8 -B- 1. However, 
there  are some UK commitments on services sector such as Education Services and some 
Health Related and Social Services which are narrower in the Agreement than the GATS.  
 Could the UK explain what additional restrictions are imposed by the UK on the 
Service S ector?  
 
Response from the United Kingdom  
 
 The commitments referred to as narrower in Table 4.1 are identical to those found in the 
EU-Singapore Agreement. More generally, agreements that the UK has transitioned since leaving 
the EU replicate, as far as possible, the effects of previous EU agreements.  
 
 The UK -Singapore Agreement, like the EU -Singapore Agreement, contains ambitious and 
liberali zing provisions for trade in services, widening sectoral coverage and deepening commitments 
in many services sect ors when compared to the UK’s commitments under the GATS.  
 
1.11.   The Joint Declaration on Financial Services states "With a view to deepening their 
regulatory cooperation in the financial services sector, the Parties shall continually 
consult on and discuss any obstacles that Singapore's or the United Kingdom's firms may 
face when conducting business in the other's territory".  
Will UK/Singapore adopt a similar approach when negotiating new FTAs with other 
trading partners in the future?  
Response from the Parties  
 
 The content and ambition for financial services in future trade agreements for the UK and 
Singapore are determined on a case -by-case basis.  
 
Questions from Japan  
 
Provisions on trade in Goods  
 
Rules of origin  
 
1.12.   Paragraph 3.16: Why have the Parties adopted the origin declaration by approved 
or registered exporters?  
 Japan understands that in other FTAs, both Parties have adopted self -declaration by 
exporters, which is not limited to approved or registered exporters.  
 
Response from the Parties  
 
 When negotiating the UK -Singapore FTA , the parties ' aim was to ensure maximum continuity 
of effect for traders. As the EU -Singapore FTA includes provision for an approved exporter system, 
so does the UK -Singapore Agreement.  
  
 In the case of Singapore, there is no material difference between exporters and registered 
exporters as all companies incorporated in Singapore have to be registered with the relevant WT/REG432/2  
 
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  competent authorities and issued a Unique Entity Number. In other words, the UKSFTA does not 
apply  a narrower scope in terms of self -declaration as compared to other FTAs that Singapore is a 
party to.  
 
1.13.   Paragraph 3.17: Has the extended cumulation with EU already been implemented?  
 If so, have the Parties already had the trilateral arrangements on admini strative 
cooperation with EU as stipulated in paragraph 5 of Article 3?  
 
Response from the Parties  
 
 Extended cumulation with the EU , which applies where the relevant conditions have been met, 
is in effect . The Parties have arrangements on administrative cooperation as stipulated under 
Article  3.5. 
 
Questions from Mexico  
 
General provisions on trade in services  
 
1.14.   The Agreement incorporates Chapter 8 (Services, Establishment, Electronic 
Commerce) and related Annexes and Appendices of the EU -Singapore FTA. Such 
provisions are made part of the Agreement and apply, mutatis mutandis, subject to the 
modifications specified in the Agreement.  
 Although this Agreement's relationship to the EU -Singapore FTA is mentioned, is 
there any reason why the Parties have decided not to separate the provisions on 
investment from those on services, while overlooking investment protection issues?  
 
Response from the Parties  
 
 The purpose of the UK -Singapore Agreement is to ma intain continuity of the effects of the EU -
Singapore Free Trade Agreement in a bilateral context. The UK -Singapore Agreement replicates all 
sections of the existing EU -Singapore Free Trade Agreement relevant for a bilateral agreement 
between the UK and Sin gapore. As a result, the existing structure of investment and services 
provisions have not been altered.[1] 
 
 The EU -Singapore Free Trade Agreement did not contain investment protection provisions, 
however, the UK and Singapore have agreed via a Joint Declaration on Investment Review to enter 
into negotiations to deepen their mutual obligations on investment protection within two years of 
the entry into force of the UK - Singapore Agreement.[2] 
 
 [1] Explanatory Memorandum on Free Trade Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great 
Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Singapore  [para 4.1]  
 
 [2] Free Trade Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 
and the  Republic of Singapore – Joint declaration of investment review  [pg 9, para 1]  
 
1.15.   Table 4.1 United Kingdom: Comparison between the GATS and Agreement specific 
commitments (page 25)  
 Please could the United Kingdom explain why the liberalization commitments f or 
education services and their sub -sectors (primary education services, secondary 
education services, higher education services, adult education) are narrower than under 
the General Agreement on Trade in Services?  
 
Response from the United Kingdom  
 
 The commitments referred to as narrower in Table 4.1 are identical to those found in the EU -
Singapore Agreement. More generally, agreements that the UK has transitioned since leaving the 
EU replicate, as far as possible, the effects of previous EU agreemen ts. 
 WT/REG432/2  
 
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   The UK -Singapore Agreement, like the EU -Singapore Agreement, contains ambitious and 
liberali zing provisions for trade in services, widening sectoral coverage and deepening commitments 
in many services sectors when compared to the UK’s commitments und er the GATS.  
 
Financial services  
 
1.16.   The Agreement also contains a Joint Declaration on financial services, in which the 
Parties agree to continually consult on and discuss any obstacles that either Party's firms 
might face when conducting business in the other's territory. To this end, Singa pore has 
committed to a dialogue with the United Kingdom on future requests for an increase in 
the number of wholesale bank licenses for applicants from any jurisdictions, who are not 
already licensed as banks overseas, in order to conduct digital wholesal e bank activities 
in Singapore, as well as to conduct a review of the limits imposed on e -wallets. On this 
matter, both parties are in dialogue.  
 Mexico would like to know whether any public information is available on this 
subject.  
 
Response from the Parties  
 
 Under the auspices of the UK -Singapore Financial Dialogue, the UK and Singapore continue to 
discuss the issues of e -wallet caps and digital wholesale banking licences, including limits imposed 
on e-wallets which Singapore is reviewing as committe d to as part of the UK – Singapore Joint 
Declaration on Financial Services.  
 
Question f rom the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu1 
 
Electronic commerce  
 
General Provisions of the Agreement  
 
1.17.   Paragraph 5.18: There are no changes  to the provisions on electronic commerce of 
the EU -Singapore Agreement which are incorporated into the Agreement. The Parties 
recognize the importance of facilitating electronic commerce and the applicability of WTO 
rules on electronic commerce. They agre e not to impose customs duties on electronic 
transmissions and to cooperate on a number of regulatory measures. Further details are 
provided in paragraphs 5.69 -5.71 of the factual presentation on the EU -Singapore 
Agreement in document WT/REG402/1.   
 Could the Parties please elaborate on or give examples of liabilities concerning 
intermediary service providers with respect to the transmission or storage of information 
covered in the dialogue on regulatory issues raised by electronic commerce?  
 
 No resp onse provided.  
__________  
 
1 Question w as submitted to the Parties on 17 March 20 22 (one week, 4 days before the 
meeting).